WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE 2015 SIESTA SCRIPTURE MEMORY TEAM!
WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!
Allow me to introduce myself to you as your fellow sojourner for the next 12 months and your official cheerleader. It will be my pleasure to remind you often that, in Christ Jesus, you most certainly CAN be victorious in this adventure of the faith, this challenge of the mind and this discipline of the Spirit.
Nothing we’ve done on this blog since its inception has seemed to attract more outrageous favor from God. We are convinced that He loves it. God never misses a single individual going to the work of memorizing His Word but imagine His delight when a huge community of tremendously diverse women in age, background, and worship tradition band together in a pilgrimage of faith. You don’t have to stop and wonder if it’s God’s will for His words to abide in you. The Word of God alive, active, and abiding in us speaks to us, shields us, warns us, strengthens us, sanctifies us, equips us in our callings, and directs us in our decision making. It sharpens our insight and improves our discernment. It makes us wiser and, let’s be bold enough to say, even smarter. Our brains were hardwired to flourish across the board when nourished by the Scriptures. Above all else, Scripture abiding and thriving in us builds up our faith, for “faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Â And, Girlfriend, we want to be women of faith. That faith erupts into works that were planned for each of us before the creation of the world. (Ephesians 2:10)
OK. I want to get right to it before I lose some of you so that no one will be unclear about the protocol.
The entry of your first verse is your official registration for SSMT (Siesta Scripture Memory Team). Everybody who joins us needs to start right here in a designated comment to this exact post. Even those who may jump in with us a couple of months late who are willing to work double-time to get it all done will start right here.
For a quick recap of our objective: Remember, we are committing to the memorization of 24 verses in 12 months. Two a month. We each get to select our own verses to align with our personal needs and challenges. Choosing a Scripture that resonates with you is immensely helpful in the memorization process. If you have trouble coming up with one of your own, you can always share mine or look through the other entries for ideas. You’ll find your SSMT posts right here on the blog at 8:00 AM on the 1st and 15th of every month in 2015. [Under the LINKS section listed on the right hand side of our blog home page, you will find all SSMT posts will store together for easy access. See “Scripture Memory Team 2015”.] If you haven’t had a chance to read all the instructions and hear about our end-of-year celebration, please go back and read the informational post then return to this spot. Questions unanswered here are answered there.
One of the most important things for you to know from the top is how to arrange your comment with the verse you’ve selected. We limit each comment to this information:Â
Your name, city, verse (written all the way out), reference, and translation.Â
SO, here goes mine! I’m obsessed with the Book of Ephesians right now so much of my memory work will probably come from those pages.
Beth Moore, Houston, Texas. “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19 ESV
We’re fellow citizens with the likes of Peter and John and James and Stephen and Paul and Timothy and Barnabas and Joanna and Susanna and Lydia and Tabitha and just try counting all the Marys. We’re fellow citizens and members of the household of Middle Eastern believers confessing Christ in hostile climates, of Chinese believers meeting in house churches, of Eastern European believers finding hope in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have brothers and sisters in Thessaloniki, in Paris, in Belfast, in Riyadh, in Copenhagen, in Calgary, and Rome. We – right here in this community – are sisters to a household of God that stretches across this globe, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ alone. By grace through faith. “It is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) That’s what makes us family. We, beloved sister, are in gorgeous company. Let’s give our time on this planet as part of this household all we’ve got. Christ is so altogether worthy.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! One last thing before I say Go! Don’t panic or jump the gun and post a second time if you don’t see your verse published soon. I will be moderating all these launch comments by myself because I don’t want my staff to have to work on the holiday so I beg your patience. I’ll be hard at work on it but it will take me a while to get them all posted. As a rule over the next 12 months, only post a second time if it’s been 48 hours since you left the comment and you still don’t see it.
****I noticed that some of you posted verses earlier than this post was published and they came up on the SSMT informational comments.  I should have doubly emphasized what time the posts will go up each round: 8:00 AM, each 1st and 15th. So sorry if I did not make that clear enough! If you submit your verse earlier than that, it unfortunately appears under the wrong post and, the way blog moderating works, there’s no way for us to transfer the comments over. If you left your 1st verse under any other post than this one, please add it here as well. This is the official registration post.  I know it’s a bit complicated at first! Hang with it! So sorry for your extra trouble!
Hey, I am so glad you’re doing this with us. So much love to you.
OK, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carrie Starr, Rochester, NY, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 ESV
Lynn Gully, Birmingham, Al. Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and Streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43: 18-19
Tiffany Brittain, Joaquin, Texas. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:14 KJV
Lynda Kusick Oconomowoc WI
Psalm 119:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
Carol Rogers, Lacey, WA. Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJ
Neva Winters, western NC
Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. John 13:16
Kristie from Catlett, VA
“Guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:5 (NIV)
Ally McGehee, Houston, TX.
“I will lead the blind by a way they did not know;
I will guide them on paths they have not known.
I will turn darkness to light in front of them, and rough places into level ground.
This is what I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.”
Isaiah 42:16 HCSB
Better late than never
Ashley Wood, Huntsville, Arkansas
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” -Mark 11:24 NIV
Carrie Hammons, Arlington TX
“Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.” 1 Peter 1:6, NLT
Amy Hammett, Lewisville, NC
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Colossians 3:16a
Lisa Hobbs, Louisville, Kentucky
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
Leslie Bowman, Riverton, Kansas. “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1
I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
Psalm 119:16 NKJV
Pam Jones, Port St Joe, Florida; 1″For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future: Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Bekah, Minneapolis, MN. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. (â€Jeremiah‬ â€17‬:â€7-8‬ NKJV)
Amber Spencer, Carl Junction, Mo. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend upon your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NLT)
Cape Girardeau, MO
“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure” -Psalm 147:5 (ESV)
Rachel Grantham, Raymond, MS
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (â€Psalm‬ â€63‬:â€1‬ NIV)
Leslie Fielding from Texarkana, Texas – Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)
Jenn Gambal, Catasauqua, PA.
“Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus will personally restore, establish, strengthen ans support you after you have suffered a little”
1 Peter: 5: 10 HCSB
Grace Rieman, Tallahassee, FL
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Leah S. Merrifield, MN. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5 NIV
Psalm 86:11,12
Teach me your way,Lord. That I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you,Lord my God,with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
“But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.”
Isaiah 40:31
Your promises to me are my hope. They give me strength in all my troubles; how they refresh and revive me. Ps. 119:49
Cheryl Pauls, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (â€1 Peter‬ â€5‬:â€7‬ NIV)
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
Tayler Murray, Dayton,TX
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philipians 1:6 (NIV)
Lee Ann K., Brentwood, TN
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NASB)
Marsha Svendsen, Mandeville, LA, For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15 ESV
Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. Ps. 116:7 (NKJV)
Mikaela Ens, Fresno California
Isaiah 55:12 ESV
For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Jill, Winter Haven, Florida
“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 13:43 KJV
Sarah Nagel, Conway, AR
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Col. 3:15
Sue Huotari, Iron Mountain, MI
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 15:13
Nancy Holifield, Cross City, FL, “Yet the LORD will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life” Psalm 42:8 KJV
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (â€Matthew‬ â€5‬:â€16‬ NIV)
Stephanie Murphy, College Station, TX. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV
Brenda, Ottawa, ON, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 RSV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
NIV
Barbi Clark Spring Hill, FL
Isaiah 41:10:
So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Candace, Nederland, Tx
Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.
Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
Kathy from Wichita, Kansas
“And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Acts 2:21
Brandy, Sutherlin, OR Romans 5:1 NLT
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Rose McChesney, Darlington, PA
Proverbs 31:25
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
Lainie, Chattanooga, TN
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7-8, NIV 1984
Kari Darnell; Edmond, Oklahoma; “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NIV)